In the Loop – 3 March 2025

This time we are shining a light on some of the fantastic one off and one day courses you can join with us, minimal time commitment, minimal cost but maximum access to amazing activities and subjects – what’s not to like?

Saturday 22 March 2025

Freemotion Machine Embroidery-Botanical Prints – 10:00-16:00 with Debby   £60  T70D

Garden styles: Improving shady borders – 10:00-15:00 with Christine   £40  S19G

Oil Painting Workshop-Beginners – 10:00-16:00 with Warren £50  B71C

Philosophy on Saturdays – The Philosophy of Suffering – 10:00-15:00 with Jim  £40  S24P

One off weekday courses coming up…

Exploring Verdi’s Requiem – 20 Mar, Thu 10:00-16:00 with Matthew  £53  L15H

Garden Styles: Cottage Gardens – 28 Mar, Fri 10:00-15:00 with Christine  £40  S20G

Cookery: Easter Baking – 1 Apr, Tue 10:30-14:00 with Sarah £40  S33CO

How To Use Your Sewing Machine-Part 2 – 4 Apr, Fri 09:30-15:30 with Ann £62  T65B

Make the best of your garden for Summer – 11 Apr, Fri 10:00-15:00 with Christine £40  S18G

Creative Writing Group – 23 Apr, Wed 13:00-15:30 with Carolyn  £20  L40G

Cookery: Inspired by the Mediterranean– 24 Apr, Thu 10:30-14:30 with Sarah   £65  S12CO

Garden Styles: Ponds and Water Features – 25 Apr, Fri 10:00-15:00 with Christine £40  S21G

Philosophy – Freedom: Is John Stuart Mill’s book ‘On Liberty’ still relevant? – 25 Apr, Fri 10:00-15:00 with Jim  £40  S25P

Art History Taster. Elegance & Modernity: A Journey Through Art Nouveau And Art Deco – 29 Apr, Tue 10:00-12:30 with Kaitlin   £10  L13A

Making fresh pasta and sauces – Taster – 29 Apr, Tue 10:30-12:30 with Sarah  £30  S29CO

Garden Styles: Woodland Gardens– 2 May, Fri 10:00-15:00 with Christine  £40  S22G

Creative Writing Group – 7 May, Wed 10:00-12:30 with Carolyn  £14  L40M

Not just nettles – improving habitats for wildlife in the small garden – 9 May, Fri 10:00-15:00 with Christine  £40  S23G

Willow Craft: Make a Catalan Tension Tray –  9 May, Fri 10:00-13:00 with Sarah  £40  S16W

Philosophy on Fridays – What we can learn from Ancient Greek philosophers about self-control? – 9 May, Fri 10:00-15:00 with Jim   £40  S26P

Is your Health holding you back?

We all know adult learning is great for mental health and wellbeing, so when we heard our colleagues in the employment support team were heading up a brand new project Work Well, we were keen to show how learning for pleasure, can impact your mood, your confidence, your motivation and your aspirations.  The impact of learning is not just felt in the classroom!

If you or anyone you know wants to know more about Work Well give them a call.  We also have paper sign up forms available in the office here at Stoke Lodge.

Work Well West

Work Well is a free support programme for individuals with health conditions who are considering a return to work, need help to stay employed, or find new job opportunities.

Work Well is available to anyone over 16 living in Bristol, North Somerset, or South Gloucestershire who has a health condition affecting their ability to work.

The team of Work and Health Coaches provide personalised support, offering advice on employment rights, return-to-work plans, and local resources to help you achieve your goals. You can self-refer, speak to your GP, or contact Work Well directly for support.

Health conditions could include, mobility issues, mental health, anxiety etc

Work Well coaches offer professional support and can help with funding for services including:

• Gym Membership (at Horfield, Brislington, Nailsea, Backwell and Weston)
• Physiotherapy
• Counselling sessions
• and free places on Bristol Adult Learning courses

What happens if you sign up:

If you complete a sign-up form, you can include on the action plan some ideas of what might help you. – you can collect a form and hand it in to the office at Stoke Lodge.  You can also sign up online at www.workwellwest.org

You will get an initial call to check details and to ask some basic questions about your health.

You will then speak to a Health & Work Coach who will see if they can help over a few sessions, usually over the phone.

Email:  workwell@bristol.gov.uk         Tel: 0117 922 3623

New Tutors and New Courses

We are absolutely delighted to welcome Cookery tutor Sarah Alder to Stoke Lodge.

Sarah says “I am passionate about helping people discover, or rediscover, the joy to cooking and the huge benefits that eating together can bring.

I am a keen advocate of cooking from scratch, where possible, and like to support people to really make the most of the ingredients they’re buying.”

Sarah will be offering lots of delicious sounding courses including Easter Baking, Making fresh Pasta and sauces, a taste of Thailand and lots more.  I know the team here in the office are hopeful for some yummy left overs!

Also new to us this term is Art History tutor Kaitlin Fincham.  Kaitlin brings a wealth of knowledge and a real passion for art and its cultural significance.

“I aim to inspire a genuine curiosity and understanding of artistic expression, encouraging students to explore the cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance of art in all its forms.”

Kaitlin has 2 taster sessions coming up this term. Art History Taster. Elegance & Modernity: A Journey Through Art Nouveau And Art Deco and Art History Taster. An Introduction to the Italian Renaissance. With a 6 week course, Masters of the Italian Renaissance, planned for June.

Book now for courses starting after Easter.

Some of our summer term courses are already fully booked, but there are still places available on a range of courses for the summer term. You can see all the course details on www.bristolcourses.com,  give us a call on 0117 903 8844 or pop in the office at Stoke Lodge

Including…

• Crochet Plus: Boho Crochet For Your Home
• Everything You Need To Know About Sewing For The Beginner-Part 2
• Dressmaking And Textiles-Mixed Ability
• Just Charcoal
• Drawing- Beginners/Improvers
• Drawing Skills-Mixed Ability
• Printmaking @ St Paul’s Learning Centre
• Watercolours-Intermediates
• Watercolours-Advanced
• Watercolours-Mixed Ability
• Acrylics-Beginners
• Lino Printing-An Introduction
• Dry-Point Etching
• Art In The Outdoors-An Introduction
• Oil Painting-Mixed Ability
• Discovering your Family History made easy
• Introduction To Floristry
• Flower Arranging Intermediates-Garden Inspired Arrangements
• French Level 3B – Advanced
• Homemade Botanical Beauty & Wellbeing Products
• Tai Chi @ Cotswold Community Centre
• How To Write A Novel In 6 Weeks
• Introduction to Philosophy
• Contemporary Hispanic Literature and Film

Lets hope for more of these sunny days, that brighten not just our skies, but our spirits as well! Get ready to soak up that vitamin D and make the most of those longer days ahead.
Here’s to sunshine, blooming flowers, and all the wonderful things that come with the arrival of spring!

I look forward to seeing many of you at Stoke Lodge over the coming months

Kindest regards

Jenny